Spring has sprung and Summer is just around the corner

Tonight we celebrated the approaching warmer weather with something that has become a bit of a ritual in our house over the last few years. The exact date on which this ceremony will take place cannot be predicted, instead we must wait and watch for the signs to appear and with careful judgment pick just the right moment. The reward must be worthy of the sacrifice that will be made. There must be time set aside for proper appreciation.

And what is this monumentous occasion?

It is The First Mango of the Season.

Now, it's not like we grow these, no this is just a perfectly ordinary and hideously over-priced (that'd be the sacrifice referred to above) supermarket mango. But it represents the weeks ahead during which, upon opening the front door, our house greets us with the aroma of entire trays full of mangoes and we're allowed a WHOLE MANGO each whenever we want.

Doesn't that look good?

I bought this particular mango yesterday and when the kids discovered it nestled in the top of the bag of fruit there was unleashed the ravenous clamoring of a trio of veritable mango monsters. But I was cruel. It wasn't quite ripe enough yet I said. Wait till tomorrow.

So after dinner this evening our inaugural mango of 2008/2009 was carefully divided into strictly equal servings. I claimed my right to the seed on the basis that I was being very generous sharing it at all. The seed of a shared mango is a hotly contested prize and I stand no chance of scoring one for the rest of the season.

My share.

I was hoping to document all participants partaking in this celebration but the boys were too quick for me so I have only the one Mango Monster to show you.

This girl gets seriously excited about fruit.

Now we just have to wait for the prices to come down.